Shading voltage circuitry



April 25, 1961 SHADING VOLTAGE CIRCUITRY W. L. HURFORD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1961 w. HURFORD SHADING VOLTAGE CIRCUITRY April 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1. 1955 INVENTOR. WmsLow L. HuRFoRn BY @/wf SHADING VOLTAGE CLRCUITRY Winslow Leroy Hurford, Collingswood, NJ., assi'gnor to Radio 'Corporation of America, a corporation of Dela- The invention relates to television transmission systems and more particularly to circuitry for compensating for image distortion produced by the varying sensitivityof photosensitive electrodes'in televisionA image `pickup tubes.

In a television cameraemploying a storage type of image pickup tube-,a signal is produced Vas light impinges on the photosensitive electrode in the tube. The television image signal is produced by scanning the photosensitive electrode upon which a scene is projected to derive a current proportional to the charge storedton the photosensitive electrode in accordance with the light irnpinging thereon from the scene to be televised. In present practice this scanning is carried out by deflecting an electron beam in the horizontal and vertical directions. The image pickup tubes presently available commerciallyare subject to certain discrepancies usually referred to by the nitedj States Patent() artisan as shadingA Shading manifests itself by uni.

desired gradual variations in the output signal wave of the image pickup tube. u

In general, the-tolerances of image pickup tubes presi` ently manufactured are such that the shading errors produced are not always objectional-in the case of monochrome or black-and-white television` transmission systems, but in those systems where color images lare to be reproduced the effect can be quite-noticeable. This may be shown, for example, by televising a homogeneous used to compensate for axis shading may be used with circuitry according to the invention.

An object of the invention is to provide circuitry for producing an output voltage wave proportional to the product of a given video frequency wave and a shading voltage wave.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modulating circuit responsive to shadingvoltage signals of relatively high frequency to produce an output signal wave proportional to the product of the shading voltage and video frequency waves.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a video frequency translating circuit having a sensitivity proportional to applied shading voltage waves to compensate for undesired shading variations.

According to the invention; `a video signal repeating circuit, for example, a cathode follower, is connectedto a clamping circuit` arranged to bring the output terminals of the video signall repeating circuit to a point of an alternating current (Ai-C.) reference potential. For example, the cathode electrode of a cathode'follower is brought to the A.C. reference potential during the blanking interval. A balance modulating circuit iscoupled to the output termin-a1 of the video signal repeating circuit, the cathode electrode in therexamplegiven,` and driven by paraphase shading voltagewaves, `elfecting a voltage dividing arrangement in'conjunction with the internal m-A pedance of the video signal repeating circuit; The division ratio is .arranged asa function ofthe-sensitivity controlling or shadingLj-'voltage waves.` u l In order that the practical aspectsof .the invention may be fully appreciated and readily "applied, an.expr`ess embodiment is described, by way ofexampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawing inA which:

yellow eld. A yellowfield is normally made up of equal quantities of red and` green so that in the process* of televising av yellow field, if the vsensitivity ofthe red pickup is high on the right side, then the right side of the reproduced field will appear orange, thereby giving the false impression that the picture televised Iisactually` orange onthe rightside. i

There lare several principal types of shading. "One type called background or? axis shading, occurs. where no light impinges. on the photosenstive electrode ofthe pickup tube. This type-ofv shading `is principally due to non-u uniformities of the tube' structure and` ismosty trouble-` Fig; l is a functional diagram of portions` of a color television transmission system incorporating circuitry accordingto the invention; i 'i V i Fig.` 2 is afunctional" diagram of ,onefof the shading" ampliiiers showninFig. 1; i u Fig.V 3 is` a schematic diagram of a shading amplifier accodingto the invention as'outlined in Fig. V2;` and Fig.; 4V is a` series' ofgraphical'representations of waveforms appearing at various points inthe Vshading amplifier circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 3.

' Afunctional diagram of a complementary signaltra'ns-V lating systenr in the form of a color television broadcasting system1 incorporating shadingcircuitry according to the invention is shown Fig.` 1. The component color` signals from color television cameras 10-R,310-B and lll-G, or. other signal pickup devices, are` presentedY at the input terminals lf2-R, StZ-B and' 12-G of ,a plurality of Vshading and" modulating amplifying circuits rv1441?,

some with the'irnage orthicon tubewherein itis caused by i electron multiplier` portion. This type of shadinglis corsensitive electrode is oftengfar from beingfa homogeneous" layer: throughout and therefore thesensitivity for the different:V portions of-thef electrode varies; This, difference' in sensitivity over the dilerent parts of the areascanned results-.in Aan imagel signal which varies inmagnitude whenever the electrode is exposed to light whose` intensity remainsthe same over: the-various" elementsgofithe .electroder This typefof shadinglismore seriousjinthe vdicon and likeimage pickup tubes.` Correction4 is madei bythe productizof aishadingvoltage andthe video1 wavesioithat,

this ,wtypcaof `shading-requiresspecial circuitryforpslading 'voltage insertion-although `tlie 1` same shading voltages-'- rected by adding 4a compensating signal `tothevideo sigsynchronizing pulsesare" applied at horizontal synchroif; nizing inputf terminal"s.18` and 20-R`, Ztl-B,` and 205Gf` Horizontal shading voltages are .producedby a horizontal liti-Bu` and 14"Ci; "There is` one such amplifying `circuit-` for each lof-the component colors. Shading corrected i output sign-als are delivered to the output termina-ls 1li-R,

`16A-B rindi-G. Thejcorrection is being determined byV the application ofhorizontal synchronizing pulses and. Y

horizontal and` vertica`1` shading voltages. Thehorizontal.

shading voltage generatingfcircuit 122 coupled to the horiu zontal pulse terminals'lBand horizontal shading voltageinput-vterminalsrlsl, 24-B and24-Gr.'` Vertical shading-l voltages are" generated 'in rlesponsetd fvertical synchroniz;

ingpulses applied at'vertical synchronizing pulse terminals f `2f leading lto the"vertical Ashading generating circuit 28; i

which'is: coupled to' the. vertical lshading;,voltage inputterminals 30-'R',"`30`B and.30-G.` ,Theshadingcorrectedij component color. signals" at theoutput terminals `lr6-R1,` 16-B Aand 1li-GV are tlien 'applied` to' lev'ell` and. blankingy Vparaphase 4amplifying tube 68.

and blanking amplifying circuits together with the shading amplifying circuits forni processing ampilfiers, by which term those skilled in the art will readily recognize type of circuitry involved. In the interest of clarity however the shading amplifying circuits'14-R, 14-B and 14-G andthe functions performed thereby have been separated from the remainder of the processing amplifiers. It may be desirable to use separate chassis for each of vthe two types of amplifying circuits or to combine them in one chassis. Whether separate or combined, these processing amplifiers are arranged so that the television broadcast station engineer is able to controlthe addition of .blanking signals, vary the Adegree of pedestal setup, adjust the gain of each component signal, and according to-the invention compensate for shading, 'land otherwise process the signals as required.`

. After processing, the component color signals are applied to the input terminals of a colorplexer38, or other signal combining circuitry. It should be understood that theV operation of the colorplexer in no way forms any part of the invention and that circuitry according tothe invention is useful with many different types of colorplexers as required by type o f vcolor television signal transmissionfor which the television broadcasting system under consideration is established. VThe combined color signals from the colorplexer are available at the colorpleXer output terminals 40 at which point the combined signals have been clamped, blanked, compensated for shading of the respective pickup tubes and otherwise put inthe proper form -for application to a visual signal broadcasting transmitter (not shown). Y

A shadingy amplifier 14. is shownl in greater detail in the functional'diagrarn of Fig. 2. A video signal from a color camerais applied at the input terminals 12 of a modulatelV repeatingy circuit 42 forv application to'the output'terminal 16, with or without amplification in a video amplifyingcircuit 44. Horizontal synchronizing pulses applied at the terminals 20 are applied to a clamp driving circuit 46 which` operates a clamping circuit 48 to clamp the output line 49 to va point of reference potential during the clamping interval. YHorizontal and vertical shading voltages appearing at the corresponding input terminals 24 and 30 are lappliedto a mixing and amplifying/circuit `50 v which is coupled to a shading voltage driving circuit v52. The composite shading voltage is developed in lparaphase relationship in the driving circuit 52 and, applied vto lthe shading modulating circuit 54 which is connected to the video output signal A circuit arrangement for performing the functions out-V lined in Fig. 2 is given in the schematic diagram in Fig. '3.

YThe videolinput signal app-lied at'the input'terminals 12? is developedacrossA an input resistor 58 andapplied by means of a coupling capacitor SSV-tothe grid of a signal repeating triode 60. The triode 60 isr connected in a 1 cathode follower circuit having an output` impedance element, shown as a resistor 62, connected between the cathode elementk and a point of fixed direct current (ID-C.) reference potential, shown "as ground. Horizontal synchronizing pulses at horizontalvinput terminals 20'fare developed across a gridresistor 66 of a triode pulses are developed across lthe anode and'cathode resistors 7 1', 72 for'application to a bi-drectional clamping diode 74. During the blanking interval the :black level o f the video signal is clamped by the clamping; circuit 48 tothe reference potential determined byl the setting ofthe arm of a potentiometer 79. The arm ofthe potentiometer 79 isladjust`edso that the current drawn byA Paraphase vvclamping the cathode follower tube 60 through the load impedance resistor 62 is just sufficient to bring the cathode electrode exactly to zero voltage with respect to the A fC. reference potential. Under this condition there is no direct current iiow in lead 49 connected to the cathode electrode. The voltage across the load resistor 62 in the absence of video signal input, and also for black level video signal, is Ithus equal to the A.-C. reference potential.

Shading due to variations in the sensitivity of the photoconductive layer of a vidicon tube, for example, may Vnow be corrected without affecting the black level of the video signal by effectively varying the gain of the signal repeating circuit 42 through'the intermediary of the modulating circuit 54. The modulating circuit 54 is connected between the cathode electrode of the modulated signal repeating tube 60 and the point of fixed A.C. reference potential, so that a voltage dividing arrangement is established in conjunction with the internal impedance of the cathode follower tube 60. The-ratio of the output voltages isthen made a function of the sensitivity controlling or shading voltage waves which are applied to the modulating circuit 54.

The video signal appearingacross the output impedance element 62 is applied by means of a coupling capacitor 63 to thegrid of a pentode video amplifying tube 64. The tube 64 is shown connected in a conventional `video frequency amplifying circuit as an example of a circuit other electrodes of the devices 81, `82 are connected to the fixed A.-C. reference potential through a pair of low impedance elements shown 'as resistors 83,' S4. Actually the signal return for the unilateral conducting devices 81, $2 is made through the very low driving point impedance components of the modulator driving electron discharge devices 85, 86. The cathode impedance elements of the driving .devices 85, 86 are connected respectively to the cathode vand anode elements of the unilateral conducting devicesSl, 82. The return impedance is determined by the parallel impedance components of the cathode resistor` 83, orV 84, Vand the mutual conductance` gm ofthe discharge device-'85, or 86, dividedby the feedback return dilerence factor, which factor is equal to l-i-ae where at,

is loop gain. Y v l This very low driving point impedance is obtained by connecting va pair of modulating tubes 87, 88 to the modulator driving tubes 85, 86 in inverse feedback pair Y configuration. The anodes of the modulating tubes 87, 88 are coupled to the cathodes of the driving Itubes 85, 86 respectively by coupling capacitors 91, 92 which also l apply the output potentials of the modulating tubes 87,

S8 to the .cathode electrodes of the unilateral conducting devices 81, 82. The use of the feedback pair for lowering the source impedance of the modulating signalservesto increase the depth of modulation that is obtained from` the modulating circuit 54. The grid electrodes of the` drivingrtubes 85, 86 are returned to reference potential by means of the pair of potentiometer circuits. One of the potentiometer circuits is comprised by fixed resistors 93, 94 and the other is constitutedbyfvariably tapped v resistance elementor potentiometer 96. By adjusting the arm 97 of the potentiometer 96 a potential differ-ence is established between `the cathode electrodes of the drivingV tubes .85, 86 to force a 'polarizing current through the umlateral conducting devices 81,82 to improve the symlinetry of'modulation. Y

Shading voltages, or shading signals, are applied inv paraphase relationship to the grid electrodes of the drivingrtubes 85, 86. These shadingvoltages are obtained' from known shading voltage generating circuitry andare I usually in vthe form of sawtooth waves, substantially parabolic waves, vand the like, alonevor inv combinationl circuit of a shading voltage amplifying tube 110. The.. output shading voltage waves are applied to the grid of a shading voltage repeating tube 111 which produces the shading voltages waves in paraphase relationship for application tothe driving tubes 85, S6. The paraphase shadingV voltages cause current to flow in the unilateral devices 81, 82 in proportion to the instantaneous amplitures of the shading voltages, varying the anode impedanceof the` unilateral conducting devices 81, `82 and hence varying the` eiective impedance from the` output` lead 49 with respect `to the A.C. reference potential, which may be taken as an A.C. but not a D.C. ground.

This effective impedance in conjunction with the internal impedance ofy the cathode circuitof the `cathode follower tube 60, serves as a variable voltage divider, dividing the video signal in response to the applied sensitivity controlling paraphase shading voltages. When the video signal is at black level, however, the voltage acrossthe output impedance element or resistor 62 is zero and hence the output voltage is zero regardless of the value of the shading voltages, so that the black level is4 -unelected in transmission but the white` level of the video signal is varied to compensate for the variations in sensitivity of.`

Vthe image pickup device. In general the depth of modulation may be increased by increasing `the magnitude` of the shading voltages or by inserting a resistance component 112 in the lead between the cathode of the cathode lfollower tube 60 and the connection tothe modulating circuit 54. An increase of resistance of this component 112 will increase the obtainable depth of modulation. Ifl necessary, small resistance elements can be inserted in series with the unilateral conducting devicesSl, 82 for trimming the balance of the circuit.

Waveformswhich may be found at various points of the circuit arrangement of Fig. 3 yare given Vin Fig.` 4. A n input video wave representing an image comprising a series of `black-and-White bars is shown in curve (a). Paraphase sawtooth shading voltages areshown `in curves (b) and (c). Examples of combined sawtoothand para! bolic waves asusually -employed for the purpose are shown in curves (d) and (e), while the parabolic Waves are shown in` curves, (f) and (g). An` exampleV of shading corrected video signal obtained at the `output oftheamplifier 44 is shown in curvelh). `It should be :noted that the waveform `of the output `image t signal appearing between the blankingpuflses substantially the same as,` i the inputsignal b ut the amplitude variation has been cor`` rected toovercomethe deceptive signal amplitudecaused by the non-uniformity of the photosensitivematerial on the image pickup tube storage electrode.`

A voltage regulator tube 127 is" interposedin the lead from the anode electrode of the modulated cathodefollower tube tand the source of direct energizing potential. Thev grid electrode of theregulating tube1271is coupled to the anodes of the driving tubes 85, V8,6 by resistors 1-21, 122 respectivelyand to the pointof reference potentialbvmeans of a grid resistor 123. This arrangement insures that the cathode potentials ofthe cathode followertube `6l) and the driving tubes 8S, 35 trackduring warmup and` subsequent operating periods "despite changes in heater. voltage appliedtothe tubes. libe/ cath` odepotential offthecathode follower tube 60`will remain midway. between thepotentialsofthe cathodes of the driving. uubesrSS, 861 andf equalpolarizing currents will 6 ow through the unilateral conducting devices 81, 82.. The three resismrsizl, 122 Aand 123 form an adder circuit which determines the potential at the grid of the regulator tube 127 which is proportional to the currents drawn by the driving tubithrough the cathode resistors 83, 84 and also through the anode load resistors 100, 101 respectively. Variations in the average currents in the driving tubes 85, 86 produce voltage changes across the respective load resistors 100, 101. These voltage changes are reflected through the voltage regulator tube 127 to vary the anode potential of the cathode follower tube 60. The current drawn by the cathode follower 6() will therefore produce` a voltage drop across the output resistor 62 which is between the voltages .produced across the cathode resistors 83, 84, thus maintaining the proper polarizing current through the unilateral conducting devices 81, 82. Y The values below were used for the listed components for an `embodiment of the invention as sh-own in Fig. 2 which providedully satisfactory operation in a color television broadcasting system and are suggested asa guide in practice of the invention.`

VType or Value Component Modulator repeater tube 11's. 5963. Load resistor 1,800.0. Coupling capacitor 0.1 mf.

Video amplifying tube SAHG.

Grid resistor 1Mo.

Clamping drive tube 6BQ7A (parallel connected);

Clamping tubem. 6AL5. i Clamping resistors. 560 ko Dropping resistor 560 ko Clamping level potentiometer.- a 0-10 ko Modulator diodes 1N34A Cathode resistors f 1,100 0.

Driving tubes.. 5963.` Modulating tubes- `6BQ7A Coupling capacitors- 10 mf.

Potentiometer resistor 5 1 ko.

Potentiometer resistor 22 ko.

Series resistor. Polarizmg potentlometer `Grid resistor Anode resisto1' Coupling capacitor.. Bypass capacitor.- Cathode resistor... Shading voltage tu Coupling capacitors `Voltage regulator tube.. Series resistors'. Grid resistor l The powersupply used maintained a `potential differplus sign and ground.

ence of 280 volts between thejpoints marked withthe The invention claimed is: l. A shading amplifier circuit arrangement including,

a signal repeating circuit having an internal impedance componentand input and output terminals, a. shadingu modulating circuit comprising `a variable impedance cornponent connected `across said output terminals` and respon sive` to applied voltages for efectinga-series outputvvoltage dividing arrangements in conjunction with saidrint'ernel impedance component of said signalrepeating circuit, and means to applyshading voltages` tosaid; modulating t circuit, thereby to compensate at'said output terminals*` for `shading variationsin the signal at` saidinp-uti terminals.

2. .A` shading amplier circuit `arrangement. including, a signal repeating circuit having` input andoutput terminais, a shading` modulating circuit comprisingfapair of unilateral conducting devices having unlilt'es'electrodes connected to4 one `of said outputterminalsand:` other `electrodesindividually coupled to impedancecomponents i having terminals connected in common to the others-oft` saidoutputterminals of said signalrepeating,circuit,` a

shadingvoltage Vdriving circuit connected to saidgshadingi A voltagemodulating circuit at the junctionsoflsaid una assigne nals, a clamping circuit connected to the input terminalsv of said signal repeating circuit, means to apply clamping voltage to said clamping circuit, a shading modulating circuit comprising a pair of unilateral conducting devices having unlike electrodes connected to one of said output terminals and other electrodes individually coupled to impedance components having terminals connectedin common to the other of said output terminals of said signal repeating circuit, a shading voltage driving circuit connected to said shadingrvoltage modulating circuit at the junctions of said unilateral conducting devices and said impedance components, and means to apply shading voltages toV said driving circuit, thereby to compensate at said output terminals for shading variations in the signal at said input terminals and a regulating circuit coupled between said modulating and said repeating circuits.

4. A shading amplifier circuit arrangement including, a signal repeating circuit, an output impedance element connected to the output terminals of said repeating circuit, a modulating circuit coupled across said impedance element, said modulating circuit comprising a pair of unilateral conducting devices having unlike electrodes connected to one terminal of said impedance element and other electrodes individually conne-cted to the other terminal of said impedance element through other impedance components and means to apply shading voltages of paraphase relationship across said other impedance components, said means comprising electron discharge devices for each phase, each of said electron discharge devices having a grid, a cathode and an anode, the cath*- odes of the electron discharge devices being connected together and coupled to the other terminal of said output impedance element, the anodes of said electron discharge-devices being individually coupled to the other electrodes ofsaid unilateral conducting devices, `the grids of said electron discharge devices being coupled individually to the output terminals of a paraphase repeating circuit, and means to apply Ashading voltage waves to the input of said paraphase repeating circuit.

5. A shading amplifier circuit arrangement including, a signal repeating cathode follower, an output impedance element connected tothe cathode electrode of said cathode follower, -a modulating circuit coupled across said impedance element, said modulating circuit comprising a pair ofunilateral conducting devices having unlike electrodes connected to said cathode electrode and other 'electrodes individually connected to the other terminal VVVof said impedance element throughv ,other impedance elements, and means to apply shading voltages of paraphase relationship across said other impedance elements, said' means comprising four electron discharge devices connected as feedback pairs for each phase, each of said electron discharge devices having a'grid, acathode and an anode, the cathodes of the output device of each feedback pair 4being connected together and coupled to the other terminal 'of said output impedance element, the anodes of said output devices being individually coupled tothe other electrodes of said unilateral conducting devices, the grids of said output devices being individually signal 'repeatingcathode follower, an output impedance elementV connectedto the cathode electrode of said cathode follower, a modulating circuit coupled across said impedance element, -said modulating circuit comprising a pair of unilateral conducting devices having unlike electrodes connected to said cathode electrode and other electrodes individually lconnected tov the other terminal of said impedance element through otherpedance elements',jai1d means to apply shading voltages of paraphase relationship across said other impedance elements, said means comprising four electronv discharge` devices connected as feedback pairs for each phase, each of said electron discharge devices having a grid, a cathode and an anode, the cathodes of the output device of each feedback pair being connected together and coupled -to the other terminal of said output impedance element, the anodes of said output devices being individually coupled to the other electrodes of said unilateral conducting devices, the grids of said output devices being individually coupled to the anodes of the other devices of said pairs, the cathodes of said other .tubes being connected to said other impedance elements, the grids of said other devices being coupled individually to the output terminalsI of a paraphase repeating circuit, and means to apply shading voltage waves to the input of said paraphase repeating circuit, an electron discharge system interposed n the anode lead of said cathode follower and having a control element, and resistance components intercoupling the anodes of said other devices to the control element of Y said electron discharge system, y

7. A shading amplifier circuit arrangement including, a

'signal repeating cathode follower, an output impedance element connected to the cathode electrode of said cathode follower, a modulating circuit coupled across` said impedance element, said modulating circuit comprising a pair of unilateral conducting devices having unlike electrodes connected to said cathode electrode and other electrodes individually connected to the other terminal of said impedance element throughV other impedance elements, and means to apply shading voltages of paraphase relationship across said other impedance elements, said means comprising four electron discharge devices connected as feedback pairs for each phase, each of said electron discharge devices having a grid, a cathode and an anode, the cathodes of the output device of each .feedback pair being connected together and coupled to the other terminal of said output impedance element, the

anodes of 4said output devices being individually coupled to the other electrodes of said unilateral conducting devices, the grids of said output devices-being individually coupled to the anodes of the other devices of said pairs, the cathodes of said other tubes being connected to said other impedance elements, the grids ofsaid other devices being coupled individually to the output terminals of a paraphase repeating circuit, means to apply shading voltage Waves to the input of said paraphase repeating cirv nected to said cathode electrode and the other electrodes individually connected to the other terminal of said imped- Lance element through yother impedance elements, and means to apply shading voltages of paraphase relationship across said other impedance elements, said means comprising four electron discharge devices connected as feedback pairs for each phase, each of said electron discharge devices having a'grid, acathode' andan anode, the cathodes Y of the output device of each feedback pairbeing'connected together and coupled to the other terminal of said output 9 impedance element, capacitive coupling the anodes of said output devices to the other electrodes of said unilateral conducting devices, capacitive coupling the grids of said output devices to the anodes of the other devices of said pairs, the cathodes of said other tubes being connected to said other impedance elements, the grids of said other devices being coupled individually to the output terminals of a paraphase repeating circuit, means to apply shading voltage waves to the input of said paraphase repeating circuit, an electron discharge system interposed in the lanode lead of said cathode follower and having a control element, resistance components inter-coupling the :memes anodes of said other devices to the control element of said electron discharge system, a xed potentiometer circuit connected between the grid of one of said other devices and two xed potential points, an-d lan adjustable potentiometer circuit connected between lthe grid of the other of said other devices and said two fixed potential points to polarize said unilateral conducting devices.

References Cited in the le of this patent Bedford Aug. l1, 1942 

